Diego

LEARNING TO TRUST AGAIN
Another beautiful little one has joined his family on the other side.
Little Savannah cat Diego had been losing weight. His bloodwork had our vets concerned about cancer.
This week, our worst fears were confirmed and we had to help Diego pass on.
Diego arrived at the Sanctuary several years ago, after being turned into a Savannah Cat rescue group by his owner for not consistently using the litter box. (A Savannah Cat is a hybrid cross between a wild African serval and a domestic cat).The rescue group had adopted him out. Now, his second owner tried to make life good for little Diego. But Diego was shy and wouldn’t allow his new owner to pet or hold him. He communicated by soiling on the couch on several occasions. That’s when this second owner reached out to us.
Diego was very timid his first few years at the Sanctuary. We made sure he was merged with more mellow cats since changes to environment increased his nervous behavior. Over time, his confidence grew both with humans and his cat friends, Safari and Indie. He began coming up for treats and taking them out of our hands, greeting us at the door along with his other cat friends, and even rubbing past our legs allowing for light pets. Watching a cat like Diego learning to trust again is the biggest reward we receive for the work we do. Ensuring they have a happy life, on their own terms, is why we do what we do. Even though we could never pick up, snuggle or kiss Diego, we loved him just as much as the other small cats. He made his way deeply into our hearts and is a cat I’m so very proud of.
We gave him the tools to heal himself, and he embraced the opportunity. There’s no better thank you we could receive from a rescued resident.

Diego, we love who you were and who you became. We’ll all miss you greatly.